2014 has been a disappointing year for video games. I spent most of this year watching my brand new, next generation PS4 collect dust on its slick surface… wondering whatever happened to 3D and when we might actually see some VR. The majority of the time was spent trying out lackluster “indie” games and looking forward to repeatedly delayed blockbuster titles.

With most of the year devoid of games, I actually had the most fun playing retro games during my recent Summer of Playstation 2. This is not to say that I’m not enjoying any new games released, this annual game of the year post is just an appropriate opportunity to point out what’s been bothering me.

Those of us that grew up gaming are used to a certain level of quality in our games that we could count on. Time was: you bought a game, it was complete and it worked. More so this year than ever before the next gen of gaming is offering up some really great advances in tech: downloadable games, add on features, mass multiplayer online, just to name the obvious, thing is, these fancy new features are backfiring.

Out of every title I bought this year they all required an immediate update. Some games even shipped incomplete and others without their main selling features. Promises were made but they were not kept. The same holds true for the PS4 system itself; a year after launch it is still not up to par with all the capabilities of it’s predecessor.

I’m not so bitter that I’d give up one of my favorite past times but I am jaded enough to modify my purchasing tendencies. It’s unlikely I’ll be a “day one” buyer for any major title in 2015, it’s unlikely I’d buy a new system (handheld or peripheral) right away, it’s unlikely I’ll even believe announced launch dates. We’ve all been burned this year and this includes the other consoles too. No one is very happy, and while its not completely related I’m not surprised at all that there is an anti-gaming establishment movement happening on social media.

My Game of the Year for 2014 is absent and yours should be too. Quality control needs to be restored and I’m hoping the big three will really step it up for the people that put them on their pedestals. Enough with the ever-growing convention trail, the marketing and the endless hype building; every game does not have to be “bigger” than the last. What I’d like to know is what you can do for me today, and this coming year.